For many old-school fans, the 1990s were among the most exciting eras to be a New York Knicks supporter. The team reached four Eastern Conference Finals in eight years and made two appearances in the NBA Finals within six years. Yet, because they could not win a championship, much of the criticism fell on the shoulders of Patrick Ewing, as they found him incapable of bringing success to the Big Apple. This is precisely what frustrated Reggie Miller – the blatant disrespect associated with ‘Big Pat’s’ name, completely overlooking his two-way dominance on the big stage.
Miller disapproved of Knicks fans blaming Ewing for their lack of success
Ewing emerged as the former’s lone warrior when the Knicks reached the Eastern Conference Finals against the Chicago Bulls in 1993. He averaged a team-high 25.8 points, a series-high 11.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. But New York was unable to bank on its 2-0 lead largely because the Knicks’ supporting cast failed to match the intensity of MJ & Co. in the last four games.
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Then, in the 1994 NBA Finals, Ewing went toe-to-toe with MVP and DPOY winner, Hakeem Olajuwon, averaging 18.9 points and 4.3 blocks per game, including a 17-point double-double in crucial Game 7.
Even though Ewing had to sit out the 1999 NBA Finals due to an Achilles injury, he bounced back to contribute solidly for the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers. At the age of 38, he averaged 14 points and a series-high 1.3 blocks per game, yet New York suffered defeat in six games.
This is precisely what Miller wanted to highlight—when the pressure lights were at their brightest, Ewing either stood tall as the team’s lone warrior or contributed as much as he could, never giving the opponent an edge by getting the better of him. Thus, what the Knicks indeed lacked to attain success was an ‘x-factor’ who could uplift the team when Ewing ran out of gas.
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“I don’t think a lot of New Yorkers give Patrick the credit he deserves. A lot of times, he was the scapegoat, and it’s unfair to him because this was the guy that brought 110 percent each and every night he took the floor,” Miller said on an episode of the NBA Open Court. “Yeah, he didn’t win a championship, but it wasn’t because of a lack of effort. You hear New Yorkers talk about Patrick, the misfortune and lack of a championship. I scratched my head because there’s a lot of us on this panel because the great Michael Jordan did win a lot of championships, and he falls into that category.”
The blame is always associated with the superstar
As harsh as it may seem, this is the nature of the NBA; the blame inevitably falls on the biggest superstar. Since the Knicks came up short of winning any silverware despite multiple opportunities, fans directed most of their frustration at Ewing. Unfortunately for the 11-time All-Star, in doing so, they overlooked the effort, leadership, and production he consistently brought to both ends of the court.
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This may be why, as a fierce competitor who battled Ewing many times, Miller felt compelled to defend him by highlighting the seven-foot center’s consistency and leadership during his tenure with the Knicks.
Related: “I probably should have ended my career in New York” – Patrick Ewing admits he regrets leaving the Knicks even though he left out of frustration
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 6, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.